From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Arguing against introducing a speed-controlled damper system on the B.V. model, comparing its ride quality to the Wraith.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 99\3\ scan0119 | |
| Date | 21th November 1938 | |
| 442 To Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Hdy.{William Hardy} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}6/MH.{M. Huckerby}21.11.38. DAMPER CONTROL - B.V. In reply to Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Hdy.{William Hardy}22/G.11.11.38, we do not think that it would be wise to spend any time in introducing a "speed control" on B.V's. The points not mentioned in this memo are, firstly, that 8.B.V. can be driven almost anywhere in England with the damper control in the "soft" position; secondly, that 8.B.V. is less harsh in the "hard" condition at low speeds than a B.II in the "soft" condition. The customer, if we decide to give him 8.B.V's ride, will not only get a better ride than a B.II but even, possibly, a better ride than Wraith as it is now. If a "speed control" should harden up the dampers at 30 m.p.h. under certain conditions (cold oil) whether the driver wants it or not, (as happens on Wraith) he will lose more than he gains and one of the reasons for the superiority of the B.V. ride is that this bad feature is absent. It should be remembered that with the limited resources of the Experimental Dept. (owing to the Aero Programme) any work done on speed controls is done at the expense of more important work, and we recommend that the speed control is not introduced on B.V. but is introduced on Wraith 80 only if we fail to get a good ride without it. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} | ||